Nutrient formulations

Abstract

Nutrient formulations are provided having a high content of carrageenan and a low liquid content. The nutrient formulation also contains at least one nutritional and/or pharmaceutical component such as flavorings, sweeteners, amino acids, fruit solids, protein and carbohydrates. The formulations are produced by mixing at least one carrageenan at a minimum of 5% by weight, and the desired nutritional and/or pharmaceutical component with no more than 50% by weight of a liquid.

1. A molded or extruded food product consisiting essentially of at least one carrageenan, at least one amino acid and from about 29% to about 50% by weight liquid, wherein said at least one carrageenen is present in at least 10% by weight of said food product, wherein said at least one amino acid is selected from the group consisting of arginine, histidine, glycine, L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-citrulline, L-cystine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-histidine, hydroxymethionine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-ornithine, L-phenylalamine, L-proline, L-serine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-valine, creatine, carnitine and mixtures thereof, and wherein the food product is ingestible by humans and is formed by mixing the at least one carrageen, the at least one amino acid and liquid to form a moldable or extrudable cohesive mixture and thereafter, molding or extruding the mixture into a desired form. 
     
     
       2. A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one carrageenan is present in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 45% by weight of said food product. 
     
     
       3. A food product according to  claim 1 , wherein said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, glycerin and 1,2-propane diols, sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethlene sorbitan fatty acid esters, sucrose esters, and polyglycerol fatty acid esters and mixtures. 
     
     
       4. A food product according to  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid is a mixture of branched chain amino acids. 
     
     
       5. A food product according to  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid is arginine. 
     
     
       6. A food product according to  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid is histidine. 
     
     
       7. A food product according to  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid consists of one or more amino acids selected from the group consisting of glycine, L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-citrulline, L-cystine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-histidine, hydroxymethionine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-ornithine, L-phenylalamine, L-proline, L-serine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-valine, creatine, carnitine and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. A food product according to  claim 7 , wherein said amino acid is a mixture of amino acids selected from the group consisting of glycine, L-glutamine, L-histidine, hydroxymethionine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalamine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-valine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       9. A method for relieving constipation in humans comprising ingesting a food product according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. A method for reducing weight in humans comprising ingesting a food product according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. A food product according to  claim 1  wherein the product is shaped in the form of a bar.